Chapter 161: Shocking Thunder of the Past

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Jin Xing!

Everyone's suspicion was quickly drowned out by the overwhelming joy.

Gu Jin Xing stood in the center of the crowd, dressed in an expensive, fitting suit, his brows and eyes bearing a gentle, strategic composure, and he gave everyone a slight nod.

The host said another festive line, "Next, let's watch a video specially prepared for today."

The big screen lit up, and everyone's gaze turned toward it.

At the start of the video, Chu Fu was holding a tiny Gu Jin Xing, sitting amid a sea of flowers; then young Gu Yunci walked by, and later Gu Yeheng passed by.

The relatives and friends saw it, couldn't help but smile gently, saying the family had striking looks.

Later, the footage showed Gu Jin Xing grown up.

Gradually, the scene switched, and the music faded away.

The next second—

Across the whole screen, a flash of the shocking, sensational scene from the engagement banquet seven years ago swept by.

Gu Yunci grabbed Meng Shutang and left, while Gu Jin Xing stood alone, holding a ring, forlorn.

The scene was so fast that people didn't actually see it, only a flash in their minds.

Just as everyone wondered if they had misread it, the crowd was taken over by a blindingly huge oil painting, with the two bold characters "Imprisonment" beside it.

In the painting, a room with heavy blackout curtains tightly closed, a beauty wrapped in soft white silk nightgown lies on the bed, the sheer fabric clinging to her body, outlining delicate yet hazy curves.

Ink‑stained long hair lies messily on the pillow, fragrant shoulders half exposed, the collar slightly open, faintly revealing a supple chest curve; the quiet, broken yet pristine pose makes viewers' hearts tremble and minds race.

Beyond the window, a man's silhouette stands silently, one hand in his pocket…

Although the painting is metaphorical, everyone present instantly understood what it meant.

Seven years ago, after that engagement banquet, Gu Yunci took Meng Shutang to Qian Shui Wan, an exquisitely beautiful yet utterly cold cage, completing months of their fated entanglement.

For a moment, the whole venue fell deathly silent.

The previously lively sounds abruptly stopped, and everyone fell mute as if chilled cicadas.

No one knew who accidentally knocked over a champagne glass, shattering the tranquility.

Soon, shock, astonishment, and whispered gossip erupted instantly.

That was… Meng Shutang?

What's going on? Imprisonment? Didn't Grandma Gu say President Gu and the young lady truly loved each other?

Heavens, inside this house?

Meng Shutang's face turned deathly pale, as if her blood had solidified.

The most unbearable episode between her and Gu Yunci was laid bare before everyone again.

Seeing the beams of stares projected at her, she felt naked, mercilessly lashed.

But she didn't blame Gu Jin Xing; if after this venting his heart truly felt a little better, she would concede.

Just as her face turned ashen, wishing she could slip into a crack in the ground, a tall, slender figure approached and embraced her.

She thought it was Gu Yunci and instinctively moved closer.

But instead of the familiar cedar scent, it was the fresh rose fragrance that Gu Jin Xing always used, and she froze.

Meng Shutang instinctively tried to dodge, but Gu Jin Xing held her tightly.

He slowly turned his gaze, a faint, icy smile curling at his lips, his voice low yet clear enough for everyone present to hear,

"Tang Tang, everyone is wishing me a happy birthday.

How about you tell everyone how big brother trapped you in this cage back then?"

Fear flashed in Meng Shutang's eyes; she suddenly seemed not to recognize Gu Jin Xing.

But at that moment, she also deeply realized that Gu Yunci was right.

Gu Jin Xing returned, outwardly gentle and harmless, but his heart was a calculated battlefield.

What he claimed to have let go, what he said he never blamed her for, were all lies.

The host continued with the next segment, the music light and the dance tunes graceful, and soon everyone forgot the painting, each immersing themselves in a sea of joy.

But Meng Shutang didn't; she kept staring at him without blinking.

Gu Jin Xing, seeing her like that, let a perfectly timed gentle smile appear on his face.

"All the past is behind us; today is my birthday, have a drink with me!"

Meng Shutang hesitated and didn't take it.

Gu Jin Xing, not feeling the sting of rejection, said, "How about this…"

Before he could finish, Gu Yunci suddenly walked over.

The man said nothing more, immediately removed Gu Jin Xing's hand and pulled Meng Shutang to his side, "She doesn't drink, you didn't know!"

Gu Jin Xing, holding his wine glass, froze in place, the gentle smile on his face fading a bit, his previously relaxed brows slightly furrowing, his gaze toward Gu Yunci turning cold, "Brother, are you sure you want to do this?"

Gu Yunci embraced Meng Shutang, his eyes fierce as they stared at Gu Jin Xing, "What, haven't seen each other for seven years, got more power now?"

He placed the drink from Meng Shutang's hand onto the nearby table, "I know there's a lingering anger in you, and over all these years, you never let it go."

"Today is your birthday; enough of this, stop, and don't treat my patience as your license to be reckless."

Gu Jin Xing sneered, "Are you sure?"

Gu Yunci's gaze turned cold, each word deliberate, "Yes, stop at the right time, don't test my limits."

Saying that, he held Meng Shutang and was about to leave.

A woman suddenly stepped forward and bumped Gu Yunci, causing his face to furrow with a cold scowl.

The woman said, "Sorry, President Gu."

Meng Shutang, seeing her, was shocked, "Zhang Ning."

Zhang Ning glanced at her, gave her a light smile, walked over to Gu Jin Xing's side, "Shutang, long time no see."

Meng Shutang looked at her, as if suddenly understanding many things.

She smiled politely, "Long time no see."

After parting with Gu Yunci, Gu Yunci immediately apologized to her, "Sorry, I failed to protect you."

Meng Shutang pressed her lips, saying nothing.

She knew what he was saying about the painting.

Meng Shutang didn't care at all; they really had done something sorry to Gu Jin Xing, so letting him vent his anger was fine.

"Don't worry, he's vented his anger; I won't let him act recklessly again."

Here.

Gu Jin Xing looked at Zhang Ning, "Bring that cup of wine over."

Zhang Ning hesitated, "Sir, are you sure you want to drink?"

Gu Jin Xing's face held a hint of determined obsession; his fingertips unconsciously rubbed the rim of the cup, "Of course I want to drink."

Tonight, he intends to actively cling to Meng Shutang in front of everyone.

He wants to be intimate with her, to confess and entangle her while half-drunk, half-mad.

These years, he has lived alone, self-isolated, emotionally detached.

He fears his self-control is too strong to act out that loss of control.

So, he had Zhang Ning prepare a cup of wine laced with an aphrodisiac in advance, to amplify emotion, longing, and loss of control.

Tonight, he will surely lose control more than Gu Yunci did at the engagement banquet seven years ago.

Zhang Ning looked at him, feeling heartbroken, "Sir, do you really… need to do this?"

Gu Jin Xing's eyes reddened as he looked at Meng Shutang, "Zhang Ning, do you remember? Seven years ago, my brother pulled Tangtang away from the engagement banquet, and I thought everyone would side with me."

But the result was not so; because of my brother's loss of control, after everyone's surprise, they all felt they were the true love, and I was the one clinging desperately.

But after drinking the drugged wine, everything tonight will be different from seven years ago.

He no longer needs to bear the stigma, nor live in the abyss.

His love for Meng Shutang also no longer needs to rot in his heart.